Configurable slide board

ABSTRACT

A configurable slide board includes: two or more board segments, each board segment including a top surface, wherein the board segments releasably engage each other; a gliding surface located along the top surface of the two or more board segments; and a plurality of receiving holes extending through the gliding surface into the board segments, wherein the plurality of receiving holes are adapted to receive a plurality of bumpers; wherein a first subset of the receiving holes are configured to receive a plurality of bumpers to form an octagon, further wherein a second subset the receiving holes are configured to receive a plurality of bumpers to form side-by-side linear slide boards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/601,549 filed on Feb. 21, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a configurable slideboard. More specifically, the present invention relates to a slide boardthat may be configured into various arrangements.

Slide boards are used for conditioning by a variety of athletes. A usermay exercise on a slide board by sliding back and forth laterally acrossthe board. The lateral movement allows athletes to use muscles that arenot commonly used in daily activity and exercise. Most fitnessactivities such as walking, running, and cycling train muscles in aforward and backward or up and down motion. However, many of the mostpopular recreational activities, such as basketball, skating, skiing,soccer, and tennis require side-to-side motion. Using the slide boardsmay enhance skills and movement efficiency for these and many othersports. Slide boards may also develop and condition those muscles of thelegs and hips that make lateral motion possible.

Previously, slide boards had been statically configured and were for useby one person at a time. The typical slide board consisted of arectangular sliding surface including a bumper at either end. However,some slide boards had been made in a larger square shape with more thantwo bumpers, such as four bumpers forming a square, or even eightbumpers forming an octagon. For example, when using eight bumpers, theslide board surface would typically be a large square shaped slidingsurface, so as to provide enough space for a user to slide between thebumpers.

Varying exercises may be performed on the various configurations ofslide boards. However, because slide boards were statically configured,users were unable to perform the varied exercises without access tomultiple slide boards. Because of their size, it is often unpractical tohave multiple types of slide boards in a single location. Accordingly, aneed exists for a slide board having connectable parts that may berearranged and configured into different arrangements so they may becapable of accommodating a variety of bumpers and/or may be used bymultiple users at the same time as described and claimed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A slide board according to the present invention includes a plurality ofbase boards, gliding surfaces, and a plurality of bumpers. The bumpersmay be secured to the gliding surface in various configurations usingreleasable attachments mechanisms, such as bumper knobs that mate withpredrilled receiving holes in the boards. The gliding surfaces may beintegral with the base boards or may be independent elements.Collectively the base boards and gliding surfaces will be referred toherein as board segments.

The slide board is capable of being configured in a way in which theboard segments may be joined to create a larger sliding surface. In oneexample, two or more board segments may be joined to create a largersquare surface. In another example, two or more board segments may bejoined sequentially end-to-end to create a longer gliding surface.Connecting multiple board segments may allow multiple users to exerciseat once, or it may provide a larger surface so one user may utilize thesurface more effectively and/or utilize a greater number of variedconfiguration of bumpers.

The board segments may be connected in a variety of ways. Each boardsegment may include edges that are capable of being connected to anotherboard segment. In one example, a board segment may be capable ofconnecting to another board segment on all four sides. In anotherexample, a board segment may only have one side capable of connecting toanother board segment.

Once the board segments are connected, a plurality of bumpers may beattached to the board segments to provide an enclosed gliding surface,enabling the user to slide between the bumpers. The bumpers attach tothe top of the board segments using releasable connectors. For example,typically bumper knobs that mate with predrilled receiving holes areused to secure the bumpers to the board segments. The interior surfaceof the bumper typically provides an inclined face (i.e., rigid ramp)against which a user's foot may contact the bumper in use. The slopedface allows for a gradual transfer of energy between the user's foot andthe bumper, as the bumper stops the user and as the bumper provides asurface to push off in the opposite direction. The bumper's rigid rampsection may be made from or coated with a surface having a highcoefficient of friction to increase friction with a user's foot andimprove the user's ability to push off the bumper. The bumpers may alsobe secured to the gliding surface at a toe-out angle, thus providingcomfort to the user and versatility for a variety of exercises. Thetoe-out angle may be adjusted by placing the bumper knobs into differentpredrilled holes in the board segments. The slide board may also includea non-slip material, such as an open cell sponge, that is attached tothe backside of the board segments so that the slide board remainsstationary while being used. It is contemplated that the board segmentsmay be held together with brackets that enable the board to be heldtogether for a user to move the assembled slide board and/or lean theassembled slide board up against a wall. Further, one or more of theboard segments may include wheels (i.e., castors) at the end tofacilitate movement of the assembled board.

In one example, a configurable slide board includes: two or more boardsegments, each board segment including a top surface, wherein the boardsegments releasably engage each other; a gliding surface located alongthe top surface of the two or more board segments; and a plurality ofreceiving holes extending through the gliding surface into the boardsegments, wherein the plurality of receiving holes are adapted toreceive a plurality of bumpers; wherein a first set of the receivingholes are configured to receive a plurality of bumpers to form anoctagon, further wherein a second set the receiving holes are configuredto receive a plurality of bumpers to form side-by-side linear slideboards.

In some versions, the gliding surface may be a separate materialoverlain on the top surfaces of the two or more board segments. Inothers, the gliding surface is formed by the top surface of the two ormore board segments. The receiving holes may be internally threaded andthe bumpers may be secured to the board segments by bumper knobs screwedinto the internally threaded receiving holes. The board segments may befurther secured together by brackets and one or more of the boardsegments may include a plurality of castors.

In another example, a configurable slide board comprising: a glidingsurface including a plurality of receiving holes adapted to receive aplurality of bumpers, wherein the plurality of receiving holes form atleast two patterns, wherein each pattern includes receiving holes forreceiving at least three bumpers and each pattern forms a differentshape. In some versions, the plurality of receiving holes form a firstoctagonal pattern and a second non-octagonal pattern. The secondnon-octagonal pattern may provide side-by-side linear slide boards.

The gliding surface may be mated to a plurality of board segments toform the slide board. In another example, the gliding surface may bemated to a single board segment. In yet another example, the glidingsurface may be integrally formed with the one or more board segments.

An advantage of the slide board is that it may be configured intomultiple arrangements.

Another advantage of the slide board is that it may accommodate multipleusers.

A further advantage of the slide board is that it may accommodate aplurality of bumpers.

Yet another advantage of the slide board is that it provides afunctionally seamless transition between gliding surfaces when multiplegliding surfaces are connected.

Another advantage of the slide board is that the gliding surfaces may beconnected easily and quickly.

Still another advantage of the slide board is that it may be wheeledaround in assembled form to make the assembled board easier to move in agym setting.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned byproduction or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages ofthe concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies,instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a plurality of boardsegments configured as connected side-to-side horizontal slide boards.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the board segments from FIG. 1configured as an octagonal board.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a bumper connected to a board segment.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of one end of a slide board including abumper having a toe-out angle.

FIGS. 5 is a top perspective view of one contemplated exampledemonstrating how multiple board segments may be connected to form anoctagonal exercise area enclosed by a plurality of bumpers.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the connection points used in the slide boardexample in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the slide board example in FIG. 5shown without bumpers.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an alternate way of arranging thebumpers so that multiple users may use the slide board in a side-by-sideconfiguration.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another contemplated exampledemonstrating how multiple board segments may be connected to form awider exercise area enclosed by a pair of bumpers.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the connection points used in the slide boardexample in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the slide board example in FIG. 9shown without bumpers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configurable slide board 10(hereinafter “slide board 10”). As shown in FIG. 1, the slide board 10includes two side-by-side board segments 12 each including an integralgliding surface 14. In alternative embodiments, the gliding surface 14may be a separate element affixed atop the board segments 12. In theexample shown in FIG. 1, the two side-by-side board segments 12 join ata seam 22. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the shorter side ofeach board segments 12 includes a bumper 16 secured thereto.

The slide board 10 is capable of being configured in a way wheremultiple board segments 12 may be joined to create a larger glidingsurface 14. In one example, two or more board segments 12 may be joinedto create the larger square surface shown in FIG. 1. In another example,two or more board segments 12 may be joined end to end to create alonger gliding surface 14 (FIGS. 9-11). Forming a larger slide board 10may allow multiple users to exercise at once as shown in FIG. 1.Alternatively shown in FIG. 2, the bumpers 16 may be arranged on theboard segments 12 to form an octagonal slide board 10.

Since the slide board 10 may be formed from multiple board segments 12it is important that the board segments 12 are made from sturdy andflexible materials. Therefore, when the board segments 12 are placedside-by-side, they form a virtually seamless connection 22 that does notinterfere with the use of the gliding surface 14. Accordingly, a usermay slide from one gliding surface 14 to the next gliding surface 14without compromising the user's speed or movement. Also, particularlyimportant when the gliding surface 14 is a separate element, the glidingsurface 14 should be rigid enough to transfer forces applied by the userwithout creating wrinkles in the gliding surface 14, affecting thelocation of the gliding surface 14, or damaging the attachment of thegliding surface 14 to the board segment 12.

In examples of the slide board 10 in which the board segments 12 and thegliding surfaces 14 are separate elements, the gliding surface 14 isaffixed atop the board segment 12. Further, the gliding surface 14 isapproximately the same size of the board segment 12 so that the glidingsurface 14 covers the entire surface of the board segment 12. Thegliding surface 14 may be affixed to the board segment 12 using anadhesive or any other material or device that may effectively hold themtogether.

The example in FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of how the slide board10 may be arranged using four bumpers 16 arranged such that arectangular slide board 10 may be used as a pair of side-by-side linearslide boards 10. As used herein, a linear slide board 10 refers to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1 wherein a user may slide linearly betweena pair of bumpers facing each other.

As shown, seam 22 is formed along the longer side of two board segments12. In FIG. 1 there are two board segments 12. However, it iscontemplated that any number of board segments 12 may be connected so asto accommodate any respective number of users. For example, in analternative embodiment (not pictured) five board segments 12 may beconnected so as to accommodate five users.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of how the slide board 10 from FIG. 1 maybe configured to form an octagonal slide board 10 by rearranging thenumber and location of the bumpers 16. Similar to Fig, 1, the slideboard 10 in FIG. 2 uses a pair of board segments 12. However in FIG. 2,eight bumpers 16 are placed around the outside edges of the glidingsurface 14, forming an enclosed section in the shape of an octagon. Thisconfiguration allows a user to slide back and forth laterally in atleast eight different directions. In order for the bumpers 16 to bearranged in either of the shapes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the boardsegments 12 may include several different predrilled threaded receivingholes 24 allowing the bumper knobs 18 to affix the bumpers 16 to theboard segments 12 by screwing into the receiving holes 24 at theappropriate locations.

Accordingly, the slide board 10 may be configured and reconfigured toform a variety of different shapes. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and2, the slide board 10 includes a pair of board segments 12 having matingedges that are capable of being connected to another board segment 12along one edge only. In another example, board segments 12 may becapable of connecting to other board segments 12 on all four sides. Inyet another example, board segments 12 may only have another number ofsides capable of mating with other board segments 12.

FIGS. 1 and 2 shown a plurality of castors 42 associated with one ormore of the board segments 12. The castors help facilitate movement ofthe assembled slide board 10. In the examples shown, the castors 42 arewheels that are elevated from the ground surface when the slide board 10is in position for use, but can be used to wheel the slide board 10around when the slide board 10 is tipped up onto one of its ends. It iscontemplated that there are various embodiments of castors 42 that maybe used for the purposes described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of how the bumpers 16 may be attached toboard segments 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the bumpers 16 include a topsurface 26, a bottom surface 28, a contact surface 30, and a backsurface 32. The bumpers 16 are attached to the top of the glidingsurface 14 using bumper knobs 18 that fit through the top surface 26 ofthe bumpers 16 in predrilled receiving holes 24. Once the bumper knobs18 pass through the bottom surface 28 of the bumpers 16, they may fitinto the predrilled receiving holes 24 in the board segment 12.

The interior surface of the bumper 16 typically provides an inclinedface 30 (i.e., rigid ramp 30) against which a user's foot may contactthe bumper 16 in use. The rigid ramp 30 allows for a gradual transfer ofenergy between the user's foot and the bumper 16, as the bumper 16 stopsthe user and as the bumper 16 provides a surface to push off in theopposite direction. The rigid ramp 16 may be made from or coated with atextured surface 20 with a high coefficient of friction, to increasefriction with a user's foot and improve the user's ability to push offthe bumper 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the textured surface 20 may cover amajority of the rigid ramp 30 of the bumper 16, thus effectivelystopping a user's foot, and preventing a user's foot from passing overthe bumper 16. However, the textured surface 20 must not have too highof a coefficient of friction. The user's foot must be able to slidesubstantially onto the rigid ramp 30, allowing the user to effectivelypush off of the bumper 16.

The bumpers 16 shown in FIG. 3 may be solid and made from a sturdywooden material. However, it is contemplated that in other embodimentsthe bumpers 16 may be made from any other appropriate material.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the bumpers 16 are a length approximately equalto that of the width of the gliding surface 14. The bumpers 16 may alsobe secured to the gliding surface 14 at a toe-out angle 34 as shown inFIG. 4, thus providing comfort the user when they come in contact withthe bumper 16, and versatility for a variety of exercises. The toe-outangle 34 may be adjusted by placing the bumper knobs 18 into differentreceiving holes 24 in the board segments 12. For example, a slide board10 may have a variety of receiving holes 24 so that a user may affix thebumpers 16 in different locations on the slide board 10. This wouldallow a user to not only create a toe-out angle 34, but would also allowthe user to place the bumpers 16 in different locations, such asconfiguring an octagon shaped gliding area as shown in FIG. 2.

The examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 provide only one seam 22 betweenthe board segments 12. However, it is contemplated that in otherembodiments, there may be multiple seams 22 in an assembled slide board10. For example, FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the octagonslide board 10 from FIG. 2. In FIG. 5, there are four different boardsegments 12, and therefore four seams 22. However, it is alsocontemplated that in this embodiment there may be four differentunderlying board segments 12 and only one large gliding surface 14 suchthat there are no seams 22 at the gliding surface 14 level.

FIG. 6 illustrates the seams 22 in the octagon slide board 10 from FIG.5. As shown in FIG. 6, the four gliding surfaces 14 connect using analternating teeth design. However, it is contemplated that in otherembodiments the gliding surfaces 14 may connect in any other way, solong as the surfaces may be securely fastened. In other embodiments, theedges of the gliding surfaces 14 may be smooth, and they may be securedto the interlocked board segments 12, eliminating the need for any teethor other similar interlocking surface.

As further shown in FIG. 6, it is contemplated that the board segments12 may be held together with brackets 44 that enable the board segments12 to be held together for a user to move the assembled slide board 10and/or lean the assembled slide board 10 up against a wall. The bracketsmay secure adjacent board segments 12 to each other and may be attachedto the board segments 12 in any manner known in the art. For example,the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 includes metal brackets 44 screwed intothe board segments 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates the location of the receiving holes 24 included inthe version of the reconfigurable octagon slide board 10 shown in FIGS.7 and 8. Each of the four board segments 12 includes the same pattern ofreceiving holes 24 so that the bumpers 16 may either be arranged ineither an octagon formation, as shown in FIG. 7, or a configuration suchthat multiple users may slide on the slide board 10 as shown in FIG. 8.In this example, the toe out angle 34 of the bumpers 16 indicate thattwo users may slide on either side of the slide board 10 so that theyare facing each other. This position allows users to incorporate otherchallenges into their workout, such as passing a medicine ball back andforth. The bumpers 16 may also be arranged so that the two users wouldnot be facing each other, but instead so that they are facing the samedirection. Changing the location of the bumpers 16 is simple, and onlyrequires the user to unscrew the bumper knobs 18 and reposition thebumpers 16 in the desired location.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of theconfigurable slide board 10. In this variation, multiple board segments12 may be arranged in a row creating a wider sliding surface. In theexample shown in FIG. 9, three board segments 12 are connected. Eitherend of the assembled slide board 10 includes a bumper 16. There are twoseams 22 that use the alternating teeth design, which is further shownin FIG. 10. As discussed above, the seams 22 may include any design thatprovides a secure connection between the multiple board segments 12. Theseams 22 in FIG. 10 are also designed so that the inner board segment 36may be removed, and the right board segment 38 may connect to the leftboard segment 40 providing a narrower slide board 10.

FIG. 11 demonstrates the slide board 10 from FIG. 9 shown withoutbumpers 16 attached. The left board segment 40 includes four sets ofreceiving holes 24 providing four different locations for a bumper 16.Between the ability to use the slide board 10 with or without the innerboard segment 36, and the four different sets of receiving holes 24 inthe left gliding surface 40, there are eight different sliding distancesthat may be used in this variation of the slide board 10. In othercontemplated embodiments, the right gliding surface 38 and the leftgliding surface 40 may each have four or more sets of receiving holes24, thus creating even more possible sliding distances.

Although not shown in the Figures, each slide board 10 may include anon-slip material, such as an open cell sponge, that may be attached tothe bottom of the board segments 12 that faces the floor so that theslide board 10 remains stationary while being used.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages.

I claim:
 1. A configurable slide board comprising: two or more boardsegments, each board segment including a top surface, wherein the boardsegments releasably engage each other; a gliding surface located alongthe top surface of the two or more board segments; and a plurality ofreceiving holes extending through the gliding surface into the boardsegments, wherein the plurality of receiving holes are adapted toreceive a plurality of bumpers; wherein a first set of the receivingholes are configured to receive a plurality of bumpers to form anoctagon, further wherein a second set the receiving holes are configuredto receive a plurality of bumpers to form side-by-side linear slideboards.
 2. The configurable slide board of claim 1 wherein the glidingsurface is a separate material overlain on the top surfaces of the twoor more board segments.
 3. The configurable slide board of claim 1wherein the gliding surface is formed by the top surface of the two ormore board segments.
 4. The configurable slide board of claim 1 whereinthe receiving holes are internally threaded.
 5. The configurable slideboard of claim 4 wherein the bumpers are secured to the board segmentsby bumper knobs screwed into the internally threaded receiving holes. 6.The configurable slide board of claim 1 wherein the board segments arefurther secured together by brackets.
 7. The configurable slide board ofclaim 1 wherein one or more of the board segments include a plurality ofcastors.
 8. A configurable slide board comprising: a gliding surfaceincluding a plurality of receiving holes adapted to receive a pluralityof bumpers, wherein the plurality of receiving holes form at least twopatterns, wherein each pattern includes receiving holes for receiving atleast three bumpers and each pattern forms a different shape.
 9. Theconfigurable slide board of claim 8 wherein the plurality of receivingholes form a first octagonal pattern and a second non-octagonal pattern.10. The configurable slide board of claim 9 wherein the secondnon-octagonal pattern provides side-by-side linear slide boards.
 11. Theconfigurable slide board of claim 8 wherein the gliding surface is matedto a plurality of board segments.
 12. The configurable slide board ofclaim 8 wherein the gliding surface is mated to a single board segment.13. The configurable slide board of claim 8 wherein the gliding surfaceis integrally formed with one or more board segments.